Part 54

Can"tle, v. t. To cut in pieces; to cut out from. [Obs.] [Written also cantile.]

Cant"let (?), n. [Dim. of cantle.] A piece; a fragment; a corner. Dryden.

Can"to (?), n.; pl. Cantos (#). [It. canto, fr. L. cantus singing, song. See Chant.] 1. One of the chief divisions of a long poem; a book.

2. (Mus.) The highest vocal part; the air or melody in choral music; anciently the tenor, now the soprano.

||Canto fermo (&?;) [It.] (Mus.), the plain ecclesiastical chant in cathedral service; the plain song.

Can"ton (?), n. A song or canto [Obs.]

Write loyal cantons of contemned love. Shak.

Can"ton, n. [F. canton, augm. of OF. cant edge, corner. See 1st Cant.] 1. A small portion; a division; a compartment.

That little canton of land called the "English pale" Davies.

There is another piece of Holbein's, . . . in which, in six several cantons, the several parts of our Savior's passion are represented. Bp. Burnet.

2. A small community or clan.

3. A small territorial district; esp. one of the twenty-two independent states which form the Swiss federal republic; in France, a subdivision of an arrondissement. See Arrondissement.

4. (Her.) A division of a shield occupying one third part of the chief, usually on the dexter side, formed by a perpendicular line from the top of the shield, meeting a horizontal line from the side.

The king gave us the arms of England to be borne in a canton in our arms. Evelyn.

Can"ton, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Cantoned ; p. pr. & vb. n. Cantoning.] [Cf. F. cantonner.] 1. To divide into small parts or districts; to mark off or separate, as a distinct portion or division.

They canton out themselves a little Goshen in the intellectual world. Locke.

2. (Mil.) To allot separate quarters to, as to different parts or divisions of an army or body of troops.

Can"ton*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to a canton or cantons; of the nature of a canton.

Can"ton crape" (krāp"). A soft, white or colored silk fabric, of a gauzy texture and wavy appearance, used for ladies' scarfs, shawls, bonnet trimmings, etc.; -- called also Oriental crape. De Colange.

Can"toned (?), a. 1. (Her.) Having a charge in each of the four corners; -- said of a cross on a shield, and also of the shield itself.

2. (Arch.) Having the angles marked by, or decorated with, projecting moldings or small columns; as, a cantoned pier or pilaster.

Can"ton flan"nel (?). See Cotton flannel.

Can"ton*ize (?), v. i. To divide into cantons or small districts.

Can"ton*ment (?), n. [Cf. F. cantonnement.] A town or village, or part of a town or village, assigned to a body of troops for quarters; temporary shelter or place of rest for an army; quarters.

&fist; When troops are sheltered in huts or quartered in the houses of the people during any suspension of hostilities, they are said to be in cantonment, or to be cantoned. In India, permanent military stations, or military towns, are termed cantonments.

Can*toon" (?), n. A cotton stuff showing a fine cord on one side and a satiny surface on the other.

Can"tor (?), n. [L., a singer, fr. caner to sing.] A singer; esp. the leader of a church choir; a precentor.

The cantor of the church intones the Te Deum. Milman.